Why are voting booths necessary

For many voters, the services they need to vote privately and independently are available at polling sites and are more challenging to access via mail. Covid poses an unprecedented challenge to election administration.

Expanded access to vote-by-mail is a critical component of any plan to address the crisis, but it cannot be the only component. We do not know what the state of the pandemic will be in November, but states must make every effort to continue to offer meaningful access to in-person voting polling locations that are safe and sanitary. Explore Our Work. A nationwide, mail only election is not realistic. When things go wrong, polling sites provide a necessary fail-safe in mail ballot systems.

Transition glitches : When states roll out new election reforms or systems, they typically experience transition problems. For example, the lines in Los Angeles during the primary were attributed, at least in part, to the roll-out of new voting technology and the introduction of vote centers.

The meltdown in the vote-counting process in the Democratic Iowa caucuses was due largely to the use of a new and untested reporting app. The sheer magnitude of the changes required this year to allow for widespread mail-voting will compound the problem. To the extent that glitches in the system prevent voters from obtaining their ballots by mail, polling place voting may be their only option for participating. Data errors : Data entry errors — especially as election workers, many of them temporary, are rushing to process voter registration applications and mail ballot applications — could prevent voters from receiving their ballots.

In some jurisdictions, the number of errors on existing voter rolls may be especially high. In , the Pew Center on the States found that 1 in 8 voter-registration records in the United States had significant errors. Even without a pandemic, mail ballots may be lost, delayed, or deemed undeliverable. This is more likely this year as Covid has forced many people into new and temporary living situations. Ordinary mail disruptions will also be greater. Mail delays have increased in recent years.

And the pandemic is already straining the postal service. There may also be disruptions to the post office workforce caused by Covid Polling places ensure that voters facing these problems can vote, too.

Eligibility issues : States ought to relax voter identification or other documentation requirements during the pandemic, as it will be difficult or impossible for voters to obtain identification amidst government office shutdowns.

Nonetheless, some states likely will not do so, and there may be circumstances in which certain voters will need to verify their identities. Under some state mail voting systems, voters are required to include a copy of their identification when they return their ballots.

Given the COVID pandemic, an elector may vote with their face covered by establishing proof of their identity and residence under any of the three ID to vote options. An elector is not required to remove their face-covering when establishing proof of their identity and residence.

Voters, candidates and candidates' representatives may use an electronic device such as a mobile phone in a polling place for certain purposes. For example, voters may use their mobile device to show proof of identity and address documents issued electronically such as e-statements or e-invoices.

Voters with disabilities, in particular people with a visual impairment, may use a personal mobile device such as a smart phone to read their ballot behind the voting screen. If they take a photo of their marked ballot, they must delete it immediately after voting—certain conditions apply. Candidates may take pictures of Sequence Number Sheets after the polls close.

If people were allowed to show how they voted, they could be forced to vote in a certain way or votes could be bought. If you're enthusiastic about voting and want to share your experience with your friends, take a photo of yourself outside of the polling station. Candidates and candidates' representatives scrutineers are allowed to observe the election process to ensure the integrity of the vote. They must follow the Guidelines for Candidates' Representatives , which explains what they can and cannot do.

Only the election officer hired to process electors at your polling station is allowed to touch your ID. Elections Canada tells people where to vote by mailing a personalized voter information card to each registered elector. In the rare case that a polling station must be moved after we've sent voter information cards, Elections Canada informs electors of the move in several ways:.

Polling stations should make the voting process accessible to all citizens, including persons with disabilities. In order to make sure that people who cannot travel to a polling station have the chance to vote, EMBs often provide special polling stations or mobile voting to accommodate these voters.

For example, mobile ballot boxes and ballots may be brought to people who cannot leave their homes because of illness. Polling stations are a main focal point for many key parts of the election process. Polling stations are grouped together within electoral boundaries to determine representation. They often serve as registration centers during voter registration.

Polling stations are where voters are assigned to cast their ballot on election day. They are typically the place at which the votes are counted and entered into the official results sheet.

An inadequate number, or unequal distribution, of polling stations can limit the ability of some citizens to participate.

As the physical location where voting takes place, polling stations must be accessible, properly staffed and have the relevant materials for election day. If polling stations do not have enough supplies or materials, such as ballots, then some eligible voters may be denied their right to vote.